The 10 Best Barbecue Restaurants in America

It’s easy to agree that barbeque is great, but it’s difficult to agree on the best BBQ in the U.S. Everyone has his or her favorite spot. So if you’re confused as to where to go the next time you’re hit with a craving for meat and lots of it, here is a list of the ten best barbecue restaurants in America.

10. Hometown Bar-B-Que – Brooklyn, New York

Hometown Bar-B-Que is exactly what you’d expect from a Brooklyn establishment. Live music, craft beer, and smoked meat. To name a few items off the menu, there are brisket tacos, homemade Italian sausage, sriracha hot wings, whiskey sour pickles, and of course banana cream pudding.

9. Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Que – Kansas City, Kansas

A photo posted by Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Que (@joeskc) on Sep 13, 2013 at 11:52am PDT

If you want to experience true Kansas smoked meat goodness, head to Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Que. The menu features pulled pork, smoked chicken gumbo, full slab of ribs, dirty rice, and spicy slaw. Order an ice-cold beer with your meal and you’re all set.

Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Que in Decatur, Alabama, boasts a casual atmosphere and some of the best BBQ in the U.S. They’re known for their white sauce, which goes perfectly with dishes like their hickory smoked chicken, pork shoulder, and brisket stuffed baked potatoes.

A photo posted by Mantry-The Modern Man’s Pantry (@mantry) on Sep 4, 2015 at 11:48am PDT

Skylight Inn BBQ in Ayden, North Carolina, has been around a long time. They know their stuff when it comes to making no-fuss simple yet delicious barbeque, coleslaw, and cornbread. Did we mention the restaurant is a James Beard Award winner?

Whether you’re from Missouri or just visiting, hitting up a good BBQ joint is on your to-do list. Bogart’s Smokehouse is a favorite because of their great tri-tip, chicken wings, pork skins, applesauce, pineapple express BBQ sauce, cranberry cayenne sauce, and their pumpernickel bread.

4. Killen’s Barbecue – Pearland, Texas

Killen’s Barbecue in Pearland, Texas, is a twenty-five-minute drive outside of Houston, which makes it that much more special to dine there. The menu features brisket, ribs, sausage, pork belly, mac’n’cheese, bread pudding, and pecan pie. You can’t go wrong at Killen’s Barbecue because everything on their menu is top-notch, making this one of the best barbecue restaurants in America.

The Bar-B-Q Shop in Memphis, Tennessee, is acclaimed for their dry rub ribs, Texas toast, sweet coleslaw, potato salad, and BBQ spaghetti. This award-winning joint is continuously called the best barbeque joint in Tennessee, if not one of the best barbecue restaurants in America.

2. Kerlin BBQ – Austin, Texas

A photo posted by KerlinBBQ (@kerlinbbq) on Jun 27, 2014 at 6:22am PDT

Located in Austin, Texas, Kerlin BBQ has won over clientele thanks to their pork shoulder, pickles, sausages, blue cheese slaw, and banana custard. More of a food stand than an actual restaurant, Kerlin BBQ is only open during lunch hours on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

1. Joe’s BBQ – Blue Ridge, Georgia

Joe’s BBQ in Blue Ridge, Georgia, is a meat eater’s dream come true. It was also ranked the best BBQ in the U.S. by Trip Advisor.Their pork butt, chicken, pulled pork, ribs, stuffed baked potato, and baked beans are beloved by locals and out-of-towners.